Machine for assembling a pivotable handle with a package

ABSTRACT

A machine in accordance with the invention includes among other organs a working head having a fixed portion and a mobile portion co-operating together to form the handle; the said fixed portion extends downwardly to form stops with rounded ends having a flat portion on either side of the package; the package is arranged by means of positioning arms acting on support-bosses in front of the ends of the handles which are then bent a second time under the influence of two punches pushed by rams; the said ends of the handle thus bent form two loops which cause the handle to be trapped by the package; during formation of the said loops, the package moves freely towards the top of the machine.

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States atent Lhermet [1 1 3,871,423 [451 Mar. 18, 1975 MACHINE FORASSEMBLING A PIVOTABLE HANDLE WITH A PACKAGE [75] Inventor: Yves J.Lhermet, Cabries, France [73] Assignee: Societe Anonyme Sabatier S.A.,

Vitrolles, France [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 435,218

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 26 1974 France .1 74.04017[52] US. Cl 140/93 B [51] Int. Cl B21f 45/00 [58] Field of Search140/75, 93 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,575.0373/1926 Chalmers et a1 140/93 3241578 3/1966 Heisler 140/93 3,675,3057/1972 Heisler 140/93 Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Brooks Haidt & Haffner [57] ABSTRACT A machine in accordancewith the invention includes among other organs a working head having afixed portion and a mobile portion co-operating together to form thehandle; the said fixed portion extends downwardly to form stops withrounded ends having a flat portion on either side of the package; thepackage is arranged' by means of positioning arms acting onsupport-bosses in front of the ends of the handles which are then bent asecond time under the influence of two punches pushed by rams; the saidends of the handle thus bent form two loops which cause the handle to betrapped by the package; during formation of the said loops, the packagemoves freely. towards the top of the machine.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU MAR 1 8 75 SHKEI 1 [IF 6 PMENIEW 18 i975 3,871,423

SHLU 2 UP 6 O O O o o o o @9/ d Q7 ms s MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING APIVOTABLE HANDLE WITH A PACKAGE The present invention relates to amachine for forming and placing a handle in position on a package.

The technical field of the invention is the mechanical workingof metalsand more particularly of wire.

Apparatus are already known for mechanically forming and placing handlesin position on packages.

One of the known apparatus for forming the loops of the said handlesincludes inter alia a part consisting of two complementary elements, inone of which is formed a cavity of the shape of the loops to beobtained.

The portion of wire forming the handle, the ends of which are to beshaped, is forcibly engaged in the said elements so that their shape isimparted to the said ends. As the pressure is continued, the loop isformed inside the handle support studs. Once the handle has beencompletely formed, the elements are separated so that the handle, thenfirmly attached to the package, can be removed. This operation iscarried out with momentary deformation of the wire.

This process and the apparatus for carrying it out have a certain numberof disadvantages such as: the need to use considerable power to forcethe wire to match the shape of the loops; the need to form handles fromductile wire having particular mechanical characteristics in order toreduce the forces necessary to form them as much as possible;limitationof the choice of the section of the wire used; low efficiencyof the machine.

Because of the ductility of the material used and the section of thewire, the handles thus obtained do not always have the required lastingqualities necessary to fulfil their function.

The aim of the present invention is to remedy these disadvantages.

The objective to be attained is a machine which enables handles to beformed and positioned on packages, from wire and in the course of acontinuous sequence of operations, whatever may be the nature and thesection ofthe said wire used, in such a way that these handles can nolonger be subsequently separated from their packages.

The objective is attained by means of the machine in accordance with theinvention for forming and placing a handle in position on a packagehaving cavitied support-bosses, which machine is fitted with anapparatus for shearing the wire and bending the portions of wire thusobtained approximately at right angles at both ends, and with a workinghead comprising a fixed element and a mobile element for forming thehandle, which machine has on the one hand means for keeping the endsofthe previously bent handle in the axes of the orifices of the saidsupport-bosses and on the other hand two punches arranged on either sideof the package and on the same diametrica] axis which moving oppositely,contact the said ends of the handle so as to introduce them through thesaid orifices in the said support-bosses and bend them a second time,bearing against two stops arranged in the lower portion of the saidfixed element of the working head, in order to form two loops, thepackage being free to move along its longitudinal axis so that it canmove during the formation of the loops.

In accordance with an example of an embodiment, the means for keepingthe previously bent ends of the handle in the axes of the orifices ofthe said supportbosses, are two assemblies of two positioning arms whichact on each of the said bosses like pincers to bring them into the planeof motion of the mobile portion of the said working head. Eachassemblyof two arms is linked to one of the said punches so that pivoting of thesaid arms is obtained upon movement of the punches by means of a fingerrigidly attached to each of the arms, which finger co-operates with anopening formed in a plate driven by the punch.

The said stops forming the lower portion of the fixed element of theworking head extend on either side of the package in a position parallelwith its longitudinal axis and their lower ends are situated adjacent tothe said support-bosses and above them.

The said punches also move adjacent to the stops and below them, in aplane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the package and in whichplane the said orifices of the support-bosses are situated.

The principal advantage of the machine resides in the fact that, oncethe handle has been formed, it enables the loops to be formed at theends of the handle and the latter to be attached to the package in asingle opera tion.

A further advantage of the invention is the possibility of obtaininghandles which last excellently from wire having the required propertiesof elasticity and rigidity: for example of galvanized steel or the like.

A further advantage of the invention is that handles can be madewhatever the section of the wire.

Lastly, because of the very principle of the invention, the handles thusformed and mounted pivotably on the packages are rendered inseparablefrom the said packages.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained on reading thefollowing description, given solely by way of a non-limiting example andwith reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an embodiment I of machine inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the upper portion of the machine showing theapparatus for cutting and bending the wire, the fixed and mobileelements of the working head for forming the handles not being shown;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a punch/positioning arm assembly forsuitably arranging the packages on the machine;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a plan ofa punch/positioning arm assembly, and

FIG. 6 is a partial elevation of the working head illustrating theformation of a handle and placing of it in position on a package.

One embodiment of machine in accordance with the invention illustratedin FIG. 1 comprises a mechanical conveyance apparatus 1 for the packages2 to bring the latter opposite working head 3; a vertically mobileapparatus 4 to bring the packages into the correct position dependingupon their height, so that the orifices 2a of their support-bosses 2bare opposite the ends of the handle which are subsequently to be engagedtherein,

and apparatus 5 for unwinding the wire 6 of a coil 7 mounted for freerotation on a support 8; an apparatus 9 for shearing the wire 6 and forbending the ends 60 of the portions of wire 6b obtained by shearing; acombined apparatus 10 for bringing the bosses 2b of the packages 2 intothe correct position in the horizontal plane and for effecting a secondbending to form the loops at the ends of the handles 11; an apparatus 12for transferring grips 13 stored in a reserve 14; an apparatus 15 forarranging the said grips 13 in the unwinding plane of the wire 6; acontrol consul 16.

The machine has means for its operation to be controlled manually orautomatically. Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The wire 6 wound around a reel 7 mounted for free rotation on a frame 8is directed towards the organs of the machine by apparatus with frictionwheels 5a.

The operation of forming and attachment of the handle to the packagestarts after the grip '13 has been placed in its waiting position..Thesaid grip 13 is transferred from the reserve 14 by means of a pneumaticapparatus 12 which brings it into a two-position receptor organ 1Sworked by a pneumatic ram 15a.

The said receptor organ 15 has a cell 15b of generally rectangular formand able to contain a grip 13, and is mounted to pivot in the verticalplane so that the said grip is engaged therein when the said cell 15b isvertical. In its position awaiting the wire, receptor 15 is in thehorizontal position. The said ram 15a is pivoted on a support 17 fixedto the structure 30 of the working head 3.

The wire 6 driven by the apparatus 5 is firstly engaged in the grip l3and is sheared toform a section 6b which is bent through 110 a firsttime at its ends by two tools 9a, when it enters into contact with astop 9b which instantaneously generates a signal controlling rams 9c onthe rods of which are mounted the said tools 9a. These rams are in asame vertical plane, are inclined by symmetrically relative to thevertical axis of the machine and are fixed on two supports 9d rigidlyattached to the apparatus 9.

So that handles of different lengths may be formed, depending on thedimensions of the packages, the rams 9c are carried through theirsupports 9d by carriages 9e, which move in a horizontal plane under theinfluence of a gripping organ 9f driving an endless screw whichco-operates with a thread formed in the carriages 9e..Each of the saidcarriages has a fixed forming element 9g on which each end 6a of theportion of wire 6b is bent when the tools 9a impinge against the saidends.

After the latter ends have been bent, the portion of wire 6b istransferred horizontally so as to arrange it with its grip 13 oppositeworking head 3.

The said working head 3 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) consists ofa fixed portion 3aand a mobile portion 3b which cooperate together to form the handle.

The portion 3a is rigidly attached to the structure of the apparatus andthe portion 3b is attached to a carriage 3c which is moved vertically.The latter is driven by a ram 3d and is guided by two slide-blocks 3ewhich each co-operate with a slide 3f.

Below the working head 3 is arranged the combined apparatus 10 forbringing the support-bosses of the package horizontally into the correctposition for the handles to be placed in position.

The said combined apparatus 10 consists of two assemblies 10a carried bytwo carriages 10b moved towards each other in a horizontal planeparallel to the one in which the said carriages 9e move so as to placethe assemblies l0a in the correct position depending on the dimensionsof the packages. The spacingof the carriages 10a is adjusted by twogripping organs 100 which each drive an endless screw which co-operateswith a thread formed in the said carriages 10b.

Each of the assemblies 10a (FIGS. 3, '4 and 5) consists of two curvedpositioning arms 10d hinged to pivot in the horizontal plane about twoaxes l0e. The said axes 10e are attached to an element 10f of the saidassembly 10a, which element is rigidly attached to the said carriage10b. Each of the arms 10d bears at its end a claw 10g having a recess10h for better cooperation with the support-bosses 2b of the packages tobring them opposite working head 3 and into the axis of symmetry of thearms 10d.

The arms 10d are pivoted by means of a ram 10: which drives a punch l0jto which are linked two plates 10k. The said arms 10d also bear a finger101 which cooperates with a Z-shaped port 10m formed in the said plates10k. The shape of this porton the one hand enables the arms 10d to bepivoted and on the other hand enables them to be maintained in theirclosed position while the punch 10jcontinues its stroke towards thepackage to form the loop.

The fixed portion 3a of the working head 3 (FIG. 6) has in its lowerportion and extending downwardly, two stops parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the package and arranged on either side of the latter.

The said stops 3g are rounded at their lower ends at 311 and have ontheir exterior faces' 3i a flat portion 3j diverging downwardly by anangle of 10 relative to the vertical. The said punches l0j move adjacentto the said stops 3g, driving the said positioning arms 10d as they go.

Afterthe said portion of wire 6b has been transferred opposite the saidworking head 3 under the influence of the ram 3d, the mobile portion 3bdriven by the carriage 3c impinges against the fixed portion 3a, thusimparting the forms of the said elements 3a/3b to the portion of wire 6band bringing the ends 6b before the orifices 2a of the support-bosses2b. Under the influence of the then biased ram 101', the said punchesl0j move towards the package and by means of the arms 10d acting on thesaid bosses 2b bring the latter substantially into the axes of thepreviously formed said ends 6a.

Correlatively, the said punches l0j enter into contact with the latterand engage them, bending them a second time at 6c in the orifices 2a ofthe said supportbosses 2b by bearing on the portions 3h of the saidstops 3g.

The end portions 6b, then forming closed loops held captive by the saidsupport-bosses, hold the handle on the package.

During the formation of the loops and at the second bending of the endsof the handle, the package driven by the portion of the handle pushed bythe punch, moves towards the top of the machine by an amount A. Duringthis motion, it is kept centered by the positioning arms 10d.

As already mentioned, the machine may operate manually or automaticallyand may or may not be servo-assisted.

The different organs are manoeuvered by means of rams which may bepneumatic or hydraulic; it is quite obvious that this could be done byany other means.

Of course, without departing from the scope of the invention, variousmodifications could be made by a man skilled in the art to the apparatusdescribed above solely by way of non-limiting examples.

I claim:

1. In a machine for assembling a U-shaped handle having free ends with apackage having a pair of outwardly opening cavities respectively atopposite sides of said package, said handle being bent inwardly at itsfree ends to provide a pair of opposite, facing, free end portions whichextend inwardly and at a substantial angle with respect to the remainderof the handle, said machine having supporting means for said packagewhich permits movement thereof in a direction transverse to a lineextending through both said cavities and having means for positioningsaid handle with respect to a package on said supporting means so thatsaid free end portions are respectively on opposite sides of saidpackage and adjacent and aligned with said cavities, the combinationtherewith of a pair of spaced stop means respectively disposed to bereceived between said so-positioned handle and opposite sides of saidpackage for engaging a first portion of said handle adjacent but spacedfrom one of said free end portions and a second portion adjacent butspaced from the other of said free end portions and for restraining saidfirst and second portions against movement toward said package, and apair of spaced bending means respectively disposed to receive said freeend portions therebetween and movable inwardly toward said package, saidbend- 7 ing means being engageable 'with said handle at portions thereofadjacent to said free end portions thereof for bending said handleintermediate said firstand sec ond portions and said free end portionsaround said stop means and thereby moving said free end portions intosaid cavities and laterally of said line,

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said package has a pair ofsupport bosses respectively at opposite sides thereof and said cavitiesare in said bosses and wherein said positioning means comprises meansengageable with said bosses for positioning said package and therebyaligning said cavities and said free end portions.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means engageable withsaid bosses comprises two pairs of pivotable arms, having free ends, onepair being disposed to receive one of said bosses between its free endsand the other pair being disposed to receive the other of said bossesbetween its free ends, said free ends of each pair being movable towarda boss and into contact therewith for aligning said cavities with saidfree end portions of said handle.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 further comprising common drivemeans for each of said pairs of arms and each of said bending means formoving a pair of arms into engagement with a boss as said bending meansis moved toward said handle.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said bending meansis a punch intersected by said line and movable substantially parallelthereto, said punch having an end face engageable with said handleadjacent a free end portion thereof, said end face having apredetermined dimension in the direction in which said handle extendsfrom said last-mentioned free end portion and wherein each of said stopmeans has an end adjacent said line, said end being spaced from saidline by a distance at least equal to said predetermined distance topermit the passage of said punch as it is moved toward said package.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said end is convex andarcuate, in cross-section.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said positioning meanscomprises a fixed member in spaced relation to said supporting means forreceiving said package between said fixed member and said supportingmeans and a movable member movable toward and away from said fixedmember for engaging said handle intermediate said free end portionsthereof and moving said handle into contact with said fixed member withsaid free end portions extending beyond the latter and I whereinportions of said fixed and movable members form said stop means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION March 18, 1975Patent No. 423 Dated Inventor) Yves J. Lhermet It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Identifier [30] should read:

Jan. 26, 1973 France .-..........73.040l7 Signed and sealed this 13thday of May 1975.

- (SEAL) Attest C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of PatentsAttesting Officer and Trademarks FORM PO-iOSO HO-GQ) USCOMM-DC scan-wee9 ll 5 GOVIINNEMI IIINTINC O FICE "GOO-166'!

1. In a machine for assembling a U-shaped handle having free ends with apackage having a pair of outwardly opening cavities respectively atopposite sides of said package, said handle being bent inwardly at itsfree ends to provide a pair of opposite, facing, free end portions whichextend inwardly and at a substantial angle with respect to the remainderof the handle, said machine having supporting means for said packagewhich permits movement thereof in a direction transverse to a lineextending through both said cavities and having means for positioningsaid handle with respect to a package on said supporting means so thatsaid free end portions are respectively on opposite sides of saidpackage and adjacent and aligned with said cavities, the combinationtherewith of a pair of spaced stop means respectively disposed to bereceived between said sopositioned handle and opposite sides of saidpackage for engaging a first portion oF said handle adjacent but spacedfrom one of said free end portions and a second portion adjacent butspaced from the other of said free end portions and for restraining saidfirst and second portions against movement toward said package, and apair of spaced bending means respectively disposed to receive said freeend portions therebetween and movable inwardly toward said package, saidbending means being engageable with said handle at portions thereofadjacent to said free end portions thereof for bending said handleintermediate said first and second portions and said free end portionsaround said stop means and thereby moving said free end portions intosaid cavities and laterally of said line.
 2. A machine as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said package has a pair of support bosses respectivelyat opposite sides thereof and said cavities are in said bosses andwherein said positioning means comprises means engageable with saidbosses for positioning said package and thereby aligning said cavitiesand said free end portions.
 3. A machine as set forth in claim 2,wherein said means engageable with said bosses comprises two pairs ofpivotable arms, having free ends, one pair being disposed to receive oneof said bosses between its free ends and the other pair being disposedto receive the other of said bosses between its free ends, said freeends of each pair being movable toward a boss and into contact therewithfor aligning said cavities with said free end portions of said handle.4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 further comprising common drivemeans for each of said pairs of arms and each of said bending means formoving a pair of arms into engagement with a boss as said bending meansis moved toward said handle.
 5. A machine as set forth in claim 1,wherein each of said bending means is a punch intersected by said lineand movable substantially parallel thereto, said punch having an endface engageable with said handle adjacent a free end portion thereof,said end face having a predetermined dimension in the direction in whichsaid handle extends from said last-mentioned free end portion andwherein each of said stop means has an end adjacent said line, said endbeing spaced from said line by a distance at least equal to saidpredetermined distance to permit the passage of said punch as it ismoved toward said package.
 6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, whereinsaid end is convex and arcuate in cross-section.
 7. A machine as setforth in claim 1, wherein said positioning means comprises a fixedmember in spaced relation to said supporting means for receiving saidpackage between said fixed member and said supporting means and amovable member movable toward and away from said fixed member forengaging said handle intermediate said free end portions thereof andmoving said handle into contact with said fixed member with said freeend portions extending beyond the latter and wherein portions of saidfixed and movable members form said stop means.